from Outside

A few days ago, I woke up hurried and harried. With furrowed brow, my mind raced amongst the to-do’s. An anxious fog blinded me to every blessing. I worked restlessly for a while, and then I left for the car repair place. On my way, I made a quick stop at the grocery store. As I hurried past the floral department, a small Christmas cactus caught my eye. A thought from out of the blue startled me: “I could buy that Christmas cactus for the blond woman who works here.” I ignored it and kept hurrying. “It would only take a minute, and I’m buying milk anyway.” So I turned around and grabbed the Christmas cactus. As I was scanning my purchases, I saw the blond woman, helping the person beside me. I handed her the small cactus. “For me? It’s for me?” She thanked me, and then she hugged me, and then she held up the cactus for her colleague to see, and then she thanked me again. Her kind eyes were shining. And so, for the first time that day, were mine. For the first time that day, I could see beyond myself.

“[W]e sense the numinous beauty of a gift undeserved that comes at unexpected moments from Outside.” Philip Yancey

Thank You, Father, for the undeserved and unexpected gift of one small suggestion from Outside.

 “[The] Lord of all, abounding in riches. . . .” Romans 10:12